TO THE EDITOR:
The recent headline in Rhode Island Catholic “Marriage threatened again at the State House" was a bit puzzling.
Sadly, marriage between two Catholics, a man and a woman, is often not celebrated or contracted these days through the sacrament of matrimony. A growing number of our young people in contrast to their parents and grandparents do not consider contracting their marriage with the sacrament of matrimony. Such a situation, more than a civil union or civil marriage between homosexuals, I believe is a far greater danger to our understanding of what a marriage of two Catholics should be.
While considering dangers to our understanding of marriage must we not place at the top of the list, divorce. The staggering percentages of Catholic marriages that fail should demand far more attention from us than what requirements the state will determine are necessary for a legal marriage. And it should be pointed out that even now in the case of a civil marriage involving a divorced person the church does not consider such a marriage as a valid marriage yet, little or nothing is said about such a threat to our understanding of marriage.
Pastors today are aware of the great percentage of couples requesting the sacrament of matrimony are already living together. The church ceremony for them is simply frosting on the cake or providing the occasion for a big party.
If we consider the end of marriage to be more that the propagation of the species surely, it must provide an environment of love and caring, an environment grounded in Jesus. Such a love reaches out and does not strive to divide. Such a love is accepting of human weakness and frailty. Such a love finds room at the table for all, it is inclusive and not exclusive.
Yes, the sacrament of matrimony is under attack and threatened but may I suggest that the civil question of gay marriages is diverting the church from the real dangers the sacrament faces.
Rev. Richard C. Maynard
Warwick
